, many users have successfully bypassed compatibility and activation hurdles through specific workarounds [5, 11, 24]. The Compatibility Challenge Officially, SolidWorks 2018 only supports Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, and 10 (64-bit) [30]. Windows 11 support officially began with SolidWorks 2022 SP2
: For some third-party activation methods, launching the application while disconnected from the internet is required to prevent license verification [20]. User Experience & Performance